For larger measures, inscriptions record a ‘river-unit’
(Egyptian itrw): an early source for this unit is the White Chapel of Senusret
I at Karnak. It seems to correspond to 20,000 cubits (see below), in modern
terms about 10.5 kilometres; the Greek term was skhoinos

New Kingdom (about 1550-1069 BC) written sources refer to a smaller
unit, the ‘cord measure’ (Egyptian xt n nwH), corresponding to 100 cubits;
a unit of 1000 cubits is also recorded

.

The standard unit of length for smaller measures
was the cubit, in Egyptian mH

Surviving cubit rods:

Middle
Kingdom wooden rod fragments from Lahun and Abydos

New
Kingdom wooden and stone rods placed in elite burials, some inscribed, some
gifts from king

Late
Period inscribed stone rods deposited in temples as offerings

(click on the pictures)

From these examples, it has been calculated that
the cubit corresponded to 52 centimetres.

Divisions of the cubit:

One cubit = 7 palms (Egyptian
Ssp)

One cubit = 28 fingers (Egyptian
Dba)

The formalised rods found in New Kingdom (about 1550-1069 BC) burials
include other divisions:

Small
cubit = 6 palms

Shoulder
(Egyptian rmn) = 5 palms

Dsr
= 4 palms

Large
span (pD aA) = 3 ˝ palms

Small
span (pD Sri) = 3 palms

These special divisions have not been found in
accounts, and they may never have been used in practical measuring work.

A rare unit of measurement is the ‘pole’ (Egyptian
nbi), apparently used by craftsmen and corresponding to about 65 cm